How to Downgrade to Firefox 2 in Ubuntu.

Firefox is the beloved web browser of many users across all operating systems, and for good reason: it’s stable, fast, and easily customizable. Or, at least it was. With the release of Firefox 3, users were assaulted with a barrage of bugs and–perhaps the most annoying problem–random crashing and freezing. One moment, you’re happily surfing the web, and the next, you’re staring at your Desktop. Why? Because Firefox 3 crashed. Again.

There’s a simple solution to this problem–reverting back to the stable, much-liked Firefox 2. The latest versions of Ubuntu automatically come with Firefox 3, and understandably so. Hardy Heron, for example, is a long term release, so it can’t stay with the older Firefox 2. After all, Firefox will eventually work all the bugs out and have the browser running smoothly. If you’re too impatient to wait for that, however, follow the next steps.

Step 1: Open the Terminal by navigating to Applications > Accessories > Terminal.

Step 2: With the Terminal open, type: sudo apt-get install update. Wait for it to finish.

Troubleshooting: If, after downgrading to Firefox 2, you can’t install any new add-ons, you will likely need to delete your previous profile. You can find it in the firefox folder in your Home Folder. If you don’t see any app folders in your Home Folder, press Ctrl+H. Search for firefox > Profiles and delete the profile.